TBC Classic Arms Warrior Phase 1 / Tier 4 Gear and Best in Slot

In this guide we go over the different gear available for Arms Warriors in Phase One of TBC (Karazhan, Gruul's Lair, and Magtheridon's Lair). We will offer multiple different pieces as some can be rather expensive or very rare to find. Some slots have multiple "best" items that can change depending on your current gear and Hit Rating needs.

If you are starting out as a freshly-leveled Arms Warrior, our pre-raid best in slot list is meant to give you an idea of non-raid items you can chase as a solo / pug player in preparation for raids.

Do note that items from Heroic dungeons or that require Primal Nethers (which are obtained from Heroics) can be harder to get than raid items due to their daily lockout. Some Heroic dungeons are also harder than most of Karazhan.

If, however, your character is ready to take on the content of Tiers 5 and 6, then please utilize our updated lists instead.

Rank	Item	Gems	Source
Best	Warbringer Battle-Helm	1 x Relentless Earthstorm Diamond, 1 x Bold Living Ruby	Prince Malchezaar — Karazhan
Option	Malefic Mask of the Shadows	no sockets	High King Maulgar — Gruul's Lair

Warbringer Battle-Helm is by far your best helmet option, giving you tons of all the stats you want. Malefic Mask of the Shadows is also a very close second option.

Rank	Item	Source
Best	Adamantine Chain of the Unbroken	Quagmirran — The Slave Pens (Heroic)
Best	Choker of Vile Intent	25 x Badge of Justice
Option	Mithril Chain of Heroism	Echo of Medivh — Karazhan

Adamantine Chain of the Unbroken edges ahead slightly over the other choices, as it offers Arms Warriors much needed Critical Strike chance. Choker of Vile Intent still remains a great option if you are lacking Hit Rating.

Rank	Item	Gems	Source
Best	Ripfiend Shoulderplates	2 x Inscribed Noble Topaz	Doom-Lord Kazzak
Recommended	Warbringer Shoulderplates	2 x Bold Living Ruby	High King Maulgar — Gruul's Lair
Recommended	Ragesteel Shoulders	2 x Inscribed Noble Topaz	Blacksmithing
Option	Bladed Shoulderpads of the Merciless	2 x Bold Living Ruby	Echo of Medivh — Karazhan

Ripfiend Shoulderplates remain your best shoulder option, but are difficult to acquire. Use Warbringer Shoulderplates for their high base stats and counting towards your set bonus. Ragesteel Shoulders are still a great option if you can use the 2 set.

Rank	Item	Gems	Source
Best	Black-Iron Battlecloak	no sockets	Doomwalker
Recommended	Vengeance Wrap	1 x Bold Living Ruby	Tailoring
Recommended	Cloak of the Pit Stalker	no sockets	Magtheridon's Lair

Black-Iron Battlecloak is still your BiS cloak, but it is very hard to get, as it drops from a world boss. Vengeance Wrap remains a solid option, with Cloak of the Pit Stalker being similar stats but having some Stamina.

Rank	Item	Gems	Source
Best	Terrorweave Tunic	1 x Bold Living Ruby, 2 x Inscribed Noble Topaz	Doomwalker
Recommended	Warbringer Breastplate	3 x Bold Living Ruby	Magtheridon's Lair

Warbringer Breastplate is a great chest piece if you can pick it up. Terrorweave Tunic is extremely rare but still a strong Hit Rating option.

Rank	Item	Gems	Source
Best	Bladespire Warbands	1 x Sovereign Nightseye, 1 x Bold Living Ruby	High King Maulgar — Gruul's Lair
Option	Black Felsteel Bracers	no sockets	Blacksmithing

Upgrade your Black Felsteel Bracers to Bladespire Warbands if you can. If not, they remain a very solid second choice.

Rank	Item	Gems	Source
Best	Gauntlets of Martial Perfection	2 x Bold Living Ruby	Gruul The Dragonkiller — Gruul's Lair
Option	Liar's Tongue Gloves	2 x Bold Living Ruby	Magtheridon's Lair
Option	Grips of Deftness	no sockets	Karazhan — Trash Mobs

Gauntlets of Martial Perfection are a great pick-up. Grips of Deftness are nearly just as strong while offering some much needed Expertise.

Rank	Item	Gems	Source
Best	Girdle of the Endless Pit	2 x Bold Living Ruby	Magtheridon's Lair
Option	Gronn-Stitched Girdle	2 x Bold Living Ruby	Gruul The Dragonkiller — Gruul's Lair
Option	Girdle of Treachery	2 x Bold Living Ruby	Echo of Medivh — Karazhan

Girdle of the Endless Pit is a great Waist piece, giving you all of your desired stats.

Rank	Item	Gems	Source
Best	Scaled Greaves of the Marksman	3 x Bold Living Ruby	Doom-Lord Kazzak
Recommended	Skulker's Greaves	3 x Bold Living Ruby	Netherspite — Karazhan
Option	Midnight Legguards	3 x Bold Living Ruby	Quagmirran — Slave Pens (Heroic)
Easy	Fel Leather Leggings	1 x Bold Living Ruby, 2 x Inscribed Noble Topaz	Leatherworking

Scaled Greaves of the Marksman remain the best, but are still very rare. Skulker's Greaves are a great option, filling in some needed Hit.

Rank	Item	Gems	Source
Best	Ironstriders of Urgency	1 x Bold Living Ruby, 1 x Inscribed Noble Topaz	Nightbane — Karazhan
Best	Fel Leather Boots	1 x Bold Living Ruby, 1 x Inscribed Noble Topaz	Leatherworking
Best	Edgewalker Longboots	2 x Bold Living Ruby	Moroes — Karazhan

Ironstriders of Urgency are great when you do not need Hit Rating, the other two options are best depending on how much Hit Rating you need.

Rank	Item	Source
Best	Ring of Reciprocity	Doom-Lord Kazzak
Best	Ring of a Thousand Marks	Prince Malchezaar — Karazhan
Best	Shapeshifter's Signet	Lower City — Exalted
Option	Mithril Band of the Unscarred	Netherspite — Karazhan
Option	Ring of Arathi Warlords	25 x Badge of Justice

You have many different choices for the rings you wear. Shapeshifter's Signet is a great ring as you will most likely have little to no Expertise early on.

Rank	Item	Source
Best	Bloodlust Brooch	41 x Badge of Justice
Best	Dragonspine Trophy	Gruul The Dragonkiller — Gruul's Lair
Option	Hourglass of the Unraveller	Temporus — Black Morass

Dragonspine Trophy is the strongest melee DPS trinket in the game. However, it is very unlikely that an Arms Warrior gets this trinket for a very long time.

Rank	Item	Source
Best	Lionheart Champion	Blacksmithing
Option	Gorehowl	Prince Malchezaar — Karazhan
Option	Despair	Opera Event — Karazhan

Blacksmithing is highly recommended for Arms Warriors for the amazing Two-Handed weapons it offers. Swords are ideal, but Maces are good enough to use in PvE as well as PvP. PvP weapons also make a decent substitute for a PvE weapon.

Rank	Item	Gems	Source
Best	Barrel-Blade Longrifle	2 x Bold Living Ruby	Doomwalker
Recommended	Sunfury Bow of the Phoenix	no sockets	Prince Malchezaar — Karazhan
Option	Xavian Stiletto	no sockets	Terestian Illhoof — Karazhan

Barrel-Blade Longrifle is still your best option, but is very difficult to get. Sunfury Bow of the Phoenix is much easier and not much worse.

For a list of recommended enchants, check out our Arms Warrior Enchants guide.